Official: Death toll at 23 in hospital fire in eastern India

CORRECTS TO SAY THAT PHOTO WAS TAKEN AT A DIFFERENT HOSPITAL THAN THE SUM HOSPITAL - Bodies of victims of a fire at the private Sum Hospital are laid out for post-mortem at another hospital in Bhubaneswar, in the eastern Indian state of Orissa, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016. Ramesh Manjhi, a senior fire official, told the New Delhi Television news channel that the fire had been brought under control by late Monday night. More than 20 people died in the fire at Sum Hospital's intensive care unit. (AP Photo)

October 17, 2016 - 12:06 PM

NEW DELHI - India's federal health minister says at least 23 people died after a fire broke out in a private hospital in the eastern Indian city of Bhubneswar.

Minister J.P. Nadda disclosed the increased death toll in an interview with the Times Now TV news station.

Earlier, a local legislator, Vijay Mohanti, said the fire broke out late Monday and spread to the intensive care unit at the private Sum Hospital in Bhubneswar.

Few other details were immediately available.

Ramesh Manjhi, a senior fire official, told the New Delhi Television news channel that the fire had been brought under control by late Monday night.